Are there certain cruise lines that do allow dogs? I was at first interested in taking a cruise on a freighter ship (they offer accomodations, like a cruise ship) but they do not seem to allow pets. Is this also true for cruise ships?

I know they allow "service" animals, such as seeing eye dogs, etc., but no to regular pets, even when cruising with a service dog, there is a lot of restrictions and red tape to go through.. I'd love to take my dog on a cruise, but just won't happen.

Actually they do not allow service animals. There is no place for them to "go". The cruiselines can get away w/ this b/c most cruise lines are not American flagged & therefore are not subject to our anti-discrimination laws or the requirements that people be reasonably accomodated. As it switches to American flagged ships, NCL is struggling w/ some of these issues.

I don't know about freighters, but especially transatlanctic, I imaging they have the same problem.

They do allow service dogs and it was on cruisemates where I read about it. A disabled person with a service dog is allowed to cruise with them. They set up a 6 or 7 foot square litter box for them to "go' in. It is usally in a closet or some where away from most of the public. They are a "part" of the disabled person. The one lady who was writing about it said her malamute huskie was the "hit" of the cruise. Everyone fell in love with her dog.

i can only say i am glad carnival does not allow it. i work with the human kind of animals ( my co-workers ) and i go on cruises to get away from them. i cant imagine being on a ship for 7 days with the real ones. no offense to all of you dog lovers but a ship is no place for animals unless they are a seeing eye dog.

I had a seeing eye dog on Serenade of the Seas. They do allow them. THese perticular people or the cruise line, had a wooded "box" about 1/2 the size of the balcony with wood chips in it for the dog to go.

The last thing I would want to do on my cruise with my wife is take my dog with me. I am cruising with my wife who will accompany and guide me on our cruise. I can't imagine the trauma of my dog travelling in a plane for 6 hours then being on a ship.

Besides the dog must be familiar with its surroundings in order to work effectively. This just seems silly to want to take my dog with me.

There's a thread on another board about a service dog who jumped in the pool after his master & b/c the poor animal was soo hot. The crew, the line & the other passangers were not amused. They had to drain & refill the pool.

Even w/ that unexpected "problem" I'm glad to know I was wrong & that people who rely on these wonderful service animals can bring their beloved helpers on vacation too.

no offense, but i just though "wow, that is the most redneck thing I have ever heard". this was when I first read the topic

i could just picture a guy with a mullet and a trucker cap, sitting in a flannel shirt and cutoffs by the pool with this hound a budwiser. made me laugh out loud!

like theCoach said, a dog has to know thier surroundings, and be able to manuver. I think 3000 people in large crowd on an unknown ship would confuse the hell out of the dog. not to mention I don't want to stumble down to my room at 5 am and land in a pile of sh*t!

why on earth would someone want to take their dog on a cruise?? I'm a huge animal lover, but I can't imagine the stress that this would put on the dog - being on a moving vehicle with no grass and no where to go! I know dogs can get stressed by leaving them at a boarding facility, but are you kidding me about bringing them on the ship?? To me, this is the same as the people who take their dog for a car ride on a really really hot day and then leave them in the car while they go do their errands. They make it sound like the dog would be heartbroken not to go - give me a break - the dog would be much happier at home where it's not 1000 degrees! Even if the dog really begs to go, we are the humans - we should know that this is not in the dog's best interest. I really hope that there aren't any cruise ships that allow dogs on board. How terrible for the poor dogs!!

Ok Guys,
Lets settle down and be nice. While its fine to disagree, we want these boards to be friendly with no personal attacks, we all have our own opinions, right or wrong, but they should not get nasty and personal......

Has there been any concensus on whether (non-service) dogs are allowed on any cruise lines. I may be relocating internationally and it is unsafe for my pug to fly (which might be a reason someone would bring a dog on a cruise). So I thought I might be able to arrange travel with a cruise. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Rebecca

I wouldn't mind having our dogs on a cruise but we would have to fly a long way just to get to a port. I don't think the dogs would be too happy with that part of it, so I would just have to leave them at the kennel as usual.

Some dogs might behave better than some of the children I've seen on cruises. But, please leave your dog at home or stay with him. Otherwise the rest of the cruisemates might nickname him shark bait with cause.

I doubt the odds would be in your favorite than your cabin neighbors will enjoy hearing your dog bark in the early morning hours and where will he go to take a whiz when you take him for a walk?

When we were on the oosterdam in mid June we had 2 seeing eyedogs on board with us. it was very interesting. The ship set up a little area for the dogs to go to the bathroom in the back on one of the crew decks.
Jenna